Apparatus for folding shirts or similar articles of clothing for packing

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for folding shirts or similar articles of clothing for packing is disclosed for use with a plurality of folding devices which are designed to receive a shirt thereon and are adapted to be moved to a plurality of folding stations. First and second movable folding apparatuses are disclosed, the first folding apparatus serving to fold the shirt or similar article of clothing in a longitudinal direction, while the second folding apparatus serves to fold the shirt in a transverse direction.

Unite tates Knappe et al.

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING SHIRTS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES OF CLOTHING FOR PACKING Inventors: Heinrich Knappe, Eidinghausen;

Karl-Heinz Nolte, Vlotho Weser;

Reinhold Kempelmann, Bad Salzuflen, all of Germany Assignee: Herbert Kannegiesser Kommanditgesellschaft, Vlotho Weser, Germany Filed: May 20, 1974 Appl. No.: 471,612

Foreign Application Priority Data May 22, 1973 Germany 2325887 US. Cl. 223/37 Int. Cl A4lh 33/00 Field of Search 223/37, 1, 38; 270/66,

[ 51 May 20, 1975 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,639,065 5/1953 Forse et a1. 223/37 3,391,839 7/1968 Gwinn et a1. 223/37 3,464,602 9/1969 Romanslky 223/37 X Primary ExaminerGeo. V. [Larkin Attorney, Agent, or FirmSughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for folding shirts or similar articles of clothing for packing is disclosed for use with a plurality of folding devices which are designed to receive a shirt thereon and are adapted to be moved to a plurality of folding stations. First and second movable folding apparatuses are disclosed, the first folding apparatus serving to fold the shirt or similar article of clothing in a longitudinal direction, while the second folding apparatus serves to fold the shirt in a transverse direction.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Pmgmgumzmms 3,884,402

SHEET 10? 2 PATENTEH HAY 2 0 I975 SHEET 2 BF 2 APPARATUS FOR FOLDING SHIRTS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES OF CLOTHING FOR PACKING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for folding shirts or similar articles of clothing for packing, wherein a plurality of folding devices each designed to receive a shirt or similar article of clothing are adapted to be moved to a plurality of folding stations during their synchronized rotation and a plurality of folding means are provided for the mechanical folding of the shirts or similar articles of clothing.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the case of the known devices having the above construction, for example, the devices disclosed in German Offenlegungschrift l 760 429 and German Gebrauchsmuster 7 I 284, the folding elements for the mechanical folding of a shirt or similar article of clothing form a constituent part of the folding devices adapted to rotate in a synchronized manner. This is a disadvantage.

The above-described arrangement of the folding elements is a disadvantage, in particular, because it necessitates the provision of a corresponding number of folding means for effecting the folding operations to the number of folding devices. As a result, these devices are costly to produce, are subject to breakdowns, are expensive to maintain and difficult to repair.

A further disadvantage consists in that the above described arrangement of the folding means prevents, orat least, renders difficult the mechanical folding of shirts or similar articles of clothing having long sleeves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned initially which is less expen sive to produce and less subject to breakdowns than the above-mentioned known devices. It should also cost less to maintain and be easier to repair than the aforementioned machines. In addition, this device should make it possible to fold shirts or similar articles of clothing having long sleeves while improving the quality of the folds.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that the folding means required for the mechanical folding of the shirts or similar articles of clothing about a folding element corresponding to the folded size of the article are mounted in a stationary manner in the folding stations and in each folding station there is located only the folding means required for the folding operation to be effected in that particular station. In this case, the term mounted in a stationary manner" signifies that the folding means are mounted in or on the framework of the machine but are also adapted to be moved, for example, in and out of the operating folding the shirts or similar articles of clothing about an element corresponding to the folded size of the same,

for example, a plate, enables the folding means to be guided and controlled more easily with the result that the quality of the folds is regularly of a high standard.

A particularly advantageous configuration of the invention consists in that the folding means provided in the folding stations are arranged laterally of the supporting position of the folding devices and are adapted to be moved from this position into the working position. This is particularly advantageous in the case of the device according to patent application Ser. No. 440,610, filed Feb. 7, 1974 by Martin Kannegiesser and Heinrich Knappe which comprises folding devices arranged on the edges of the arms of at least one multiarmed turnstile adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis, because in this case the space in which the folding devices are adapted to rotate in synchronism and. in which, parts of the articles to be folded, for example, the long sleeves of shirts, hang down from the folding devices, is free of machine parts during the movement of the folding devices. Furthermore, as a result of this arrangement of the folding means, the maintenance costs of the machine are further reduced and repairs to the folding means and their drive and control elements are further facilitated.

It is also an advantage, firstly for the folding means for producing the lengthwise folds to be displaceably mounted in the longitudinal direction of the folding de vices for movement into the operating position and, secondly, for the folding means for producing the transverse folds to be displaceably mounted in the transverse direction of the folding devices for movement into the operating position. This is an advantage because only one movement of the folding means is required to move them into the operating position, namely only one movement lengthwise of or transverse to the folding device and, furthermore, the folding means are advantageously also adapted to be moved back into their starting position on termination of the folding operations.

It is also an advantage if the folding means are displaceable on guide rails or the like. This constitutes an advantage because it enables the folding means and the clamping sections of the same to be moved easily in the operating and starting positions, for example, free of any vibration.-

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of one of the folding devices adapted to rotate in synchronism, showing its attachment points on the rotary mechanism of the machine, two turnstiles and a part of the folding means arranged in a folding station and adapted to fold a shirt (not represented) in a lengthwise direction.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of another of the folding devices adapted to rotate in synchronism with its attachment points on the rotary mechanism of the device, two turnstiles and a part of the folding means arranged in one of the folding stations for folding a shirt (not shown) in a transverse direction.

The reference numerals in the drawings designate the following:

11 folding device 32 table plate 33 folding plate (folding means) 84 base plate (for 55 etc.)

85 tread rollers of 84 86 guide rail 87 arrow (direction of displacement of 84) Description of the Preferred Embodiments The part of the device according to the invention which is represented in the drawings and which is designed for the mechanical folding of shirts and similar articles of clothing consists of the folding device 11 5 which is arranged on the ends of the arms 40, 41, of two multi-armed turnstiles which are not represented in further detail in the drawings. These turnstiles are arranged adjacent to each other with mutual spacing and are adapted to rotate in a synchronized manner about two axes which are offset with respect to each other.

The folding device consists essentially of the frame 39 to which the table plate 32 is secured and the folding plate 33 of the folding means about which the shirt or similar article of clothing (not represented) is mechanically folded.

The shirt or similar article of clothing is folded lengthwise, inter alia, by means of folding elements in the form of folding rods 34-37 (FIG. 1), which are known per se and which are arranged in pairs.

The folding rods 34-37 are adapted to be displaced in the direction of the arrow 83 by way of the drive means and bearings provided in the housing 80 and to be returned in the opposite direction, that is, they are adapted to be moved from the starting position represented to the operating position and back to the starting position.

Tread rollers 81 are provided on the housing 80 and guide rails 82 are arranged in the frame 79 of the machine for the displacement of the housing 80 and the folding rods 34-37 in the direction of the arrow 83 and back in the reverse direction. The housing and the folding rods 34-37 are displaced by means of elements known per se which are not represented in the drawings.

The shirt or similar article of clothing which is not represented in the drawings is folded crosswise, inter alia, by means of folding elements in the form of clamping arms 51, 52, which are secured to a swivel arm 57. This swivel arm 57 is adapted to be swivelled about a swivel axis 55 provided on the base plate 84 in the direction of the arrow 59 and back in the opposite direction (FIG. 2).

The base plate 84 and the parts mounted therein, that is, the clamping arms 51, 52, is displaceable in the direction of the arrow 87 and back in the opposite direction. Hence it is adapted to be moved from the starting position to the operating position and back to the starting position.

Tread rollers 85 are provided on the base plate 84 and guide rails 86 are provided in the frame 79 for the displacement of the base plate 84 and the parts mounted thereon in the direction of the arrow 87 and back in the reverse direction. The base plate 84 and the clamping arms 51, 52, are displaced by means of elements known per se which are not shown in the drawings.

As at least the two main features of the invention, namely the feature that the operating means are fixedly mounted and that each folding station is only provided with the operating elements required in that station and the feature consisting in that the operating elements are arranged laterally of the folding devices and are adapted to be moved from this starting position into the operating position can be employed equally advantageously with the folding means for folding shirts or similar articles of clothing for packing, for example, the means for pinning and/or clipping the same, protection is also claimed for this application.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for folding shirts or similar articles of clothing for packing, wherein a plurality of folding devices (11) receive a shirt or similar article of clothing and are adapted to move to a plurality of folding stations, the apparatus having means for the mechanical folding of shirts or similar articles of clothing comprisa. a first folding means (34-37) for folding the shirt or similar article of clothing in a direction parallel to its lengthwise axis;

b. means (-82) to move said first folding means from a starting position away from said folding devices (11) to an operating position adjacent to said folding device (11) and return to said starting position;

c, a second folding means (51, 52, 55, and 57) for folding the shirt or similar article of clothing in a direction transverse to its lengthwise axis after said shirt has been folded in the lengthwise direction; and

d. means (84-86) to move said second folding means from a starting position away from said folding device (11) to an operating position adjacent to said folding devices (11) and return to said starting positlon.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second folding means (34-37; 51, 52, 55 and 57) provided in the folding stations are mounted laterally 0f the folding devices (11).

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the first folding means (34-37) for effecting the lengthwise folds may be moved in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the folding devices (11) to bring said first folding means into the operating position.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the second folding means (51, 52, 55 and 57) for effecting the transverse folding operations may be moved in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the folding devices (11 to bring the second folding means into the operating position. I

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first 5 and second folding means (34-37; 51, 52, 55 and 57) rails. 

1. An apparatus for folding shirts or similar articles of clothing for packing, wherein a plurality of folding devices (11) receivE a shirt or similar article of clothing and are adapted to move to a plurality of folding stations, the apparatus having means for the mechanical folding of shirts or similar articles of clothing comprising: a. a first folding means (34-37) for folding the shirt or similar article of clothing in a direction parallel to its lengthwise axis; b. means (80-82) to move said first folding means from a starting position away from said folding devices (11) to an operating position adjacent to said folding device (11) and return to said starting position; c. a second folding means (51, 52, 55, and 57) for folding the shirt or similar article of clothing in a direction transverse to its lengthwise axis after said shirt has been folded in the lengthwise direction; and d. means (84-86) to move said second folding means from a starting position away from said folding device (11) to an operating position adjacent to said folding devices (11) and return to said starting position.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second folding means (34-37; 51, 52, 55 and 57) provided in the folding stations are mounted laterally of the folding devices (11).
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the first folding means (34-37) for effecting the lengthwise folds may be moved in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the folding devices (11) to bring said first folding means into the operating position.
 4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the second folding means (51, 52, 55 and 57) for effecting the transverse folding operations may be moved in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the folding devices (11) to bring the second folding means into the operating position.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second folding means (34-37; 51, 52, 55 and 57) are movable on guide rails. 